Frizzy hair is the curly girl's arch nemesis and you need to arm yourself with tools for battle. But first, you have to figure out what's causing the fight. Here's a guide to the undercover causes of frizzy hair, and how you can fight back.

1. You avoid styling products

If you refuse to try any products at all, it's nearly impossible to avoid frizz. You don't have to crowd your vanity with stylers, but it's critical to test products that are appropriate for your curl type.

"A lot of people equate using any product in their hair as it being a high-maintenance hairstyle," Ethan Shaw, a curl-centric stylist with James Allan Salon in Austin, Texas. "The challenge is to convince them they need to change their attitude about all of that."

Shaw suggests you decide what you want your hair to look like, and then work with your stylist to set goals to get there one step at a time. It may mean cutting off hair that's damaged, finding the right styling produucts, or changing your cleansing and conditioning routine.

2. You're using the wrong products

Curlies are often product junkies. You hear about a product that is working for someone else, so you unwittingly buy it without really considering if it's the right product for your curl type. And if the product is not a perfect fit, the result once again can be annoying frizz.

Frazzled curls can also come from buying the cheapest (read: wrong) products just to pinch pennies. "With the economy the way it is, I'm finding out that a lot of my clients have been going to different cheaper shampoos that are more drying," says Teri Parr, a curly stylist at The Strand at Pinecrest, a salon in Miami, Fla.

Parr suggests thinking hard about how the challenging economy is affecting you. "I ask about what they're cutting back on," she says. "Everyone is trying to cut back on something and the first thing is the shampoo and conditioner."

Ask your stylist about the curl-crushing effects of cheap products, then what products they can suggest that won't bust your budget. If you're using your best friend's latest, greatest find, make sure it's the greatest for your curl type.

Show your stylist how you style your hair from start to finish, so he or she can figure out what you're doing wrong and show you the right way to style your curls.

4. You're not using enough product

When you are using the right products and applying them the right way, the problem could lie in the amount you're using. Chances are, it's not enough. This problem is more likely to surface in curlies with a longer, thicker mane, which requires more than the standard dollop of product.

Ask your stylist to show you rather than tell you how to correctly apply products.

"I'll show them in front of the mirror, what one side looks like without enough product and what the other side looks like with the adequate amount, which is a completely different look," Grant says. "Showing them what a balance should look like, generally will eliminate the problem."

5. You skip over maintenance

You may be doing all the right things during the day, but still miss one of the most important steps while you're sleeping. Frizzy mornings are common if you don’t manage your mane in the overnight hours, especially for kinkier textures.

Grant suggests sleeping with satin or silk, whether that's a scarf bonnet to protect their spirals or a satin pillow case to rest their curly head.

"Sleeping with silk or satin helps to maintain the moisture in the hair. Cotton and other materials dry it out which adds to frizz," Grant says. "The kinkier the texture, it's best at night sometimes to twist or braid it, so they can control it while they sleep."

Applying a leave-in conditioner at night also helps, and remember to do it consistently if you really want to notice a difference.

6. You have a drying dilemma

Curls and kinks can quickly become frazzled into frizz in the drying phase of the styling process. While using a diffuser can add a much-needed boost to looser curls, a hooded dryer is often the best option for kinkier curl types.

“If it’s a really tight curl and kinky texture, I suggest a hooded dryer because heat flows down and it doesn’t disturb the curl as much as a blow dryer or diffuser,” Grant says. If you don't have a hooded dryer at home, Grant recommends braiding or twisting the textured tresses, and letting them air dry.

"If time is an issue and I have to diffuse in the salon, I only diffuse to a certain point and let them air dry the rest of the way," says Grant, again referring to Type-4 textures. "But since the client doesn't know when that point is, I encourage them not to diffuse at home because it will be frizzy eight out of ten times."

7. You overdo the flat iron

There’s no mistaking the burnt, frayed ends or the wilted, weak curls. They reveal a truth that you are trying to cover up, even if you don't realize it.

"A lot of times it damages the curl to the point where it's not going to curl up nicely and it comes up as frizz," Shaw says.

Avoid using a flat iron. But if you must, at least don't crank it up to the hottest setting. “I tell them they have to be careful,” adds Parr, who works in Miami, a city blanketed in heat and humidity. “I say, ‘I understand you want to change up your look once in a while, but during summertime in Miami? Not a good idea.’”

8. You overdo it on color

If you try to get by with multiple color processes and expect to hide the drying effects from your stylist, think again. A savvy stylist will see the damage, so it's best to be upfront about your hair habits — good or bad.

"You have those who say they don't color their hair, and then I see the root," Parr says. "If you call them on it, in more of a joking manner, they'll usually end up opening up to you and telling you more stuff than you really wanted to know."

Don't color your hair on your own, and expect your stylist to create a miracle to fix it. Always consult with a professional before considering color or highlights. “It’s hard to tell a woman, ‘You can’t color your hair,’” says Stanley of New York’s Christoper Stanley Salon. “But I will never sacrifice hair texture for a beautiful color.”

Instead, Stanley suggests a demi-permanent color. “You won’t get 100% gray coverage, but it won’t be as damaging.” And if you're set on using permanent color, choose between a single-process or highlights—not both.

"It's tough for the curly hair client because she might be covering gray with a darker color, but also wants to brighten it up with highlights. I just say no," Stanley says. "I'm not going to have someone walking around with an amazing color on ratty-looking hair."

(Ack -- I hit Submit Comment too soon!) Anyway, the Trader Joe's Nourish Spa line is made mostly of organic botanicals, and it's $2.99 (in Maryland, at least) for a 16.5 oz. bottle. The conditioner is wonderfully rich and moisturizing.

Beth and Carly have great points -- dewpoint is a big factor, and I've learned not to touch my hair while it's drying or after it dries. I only touch it to scrunch out crunch, and even then I coat my hands with a conditioning balm!
Nicole, if you happen to have fine to medium-texture hair and you're near a Trader Joe's, check out the Nourish Spa line. The shampoo is sulfate-free, the conditioner is silicone-free

I have a problem with the article and how they keep pushing the more expensive shampoos and conditioners. With the way it's going I HAVE TO CUT BACK ON EVERYTHING! Don't these stylists and people know what it's like to be a broke out of college student living on a small wage trying to get by? I'm sorry, but these people need to start posting products that don't cost an arm and a leg and can be great for those on an EXTREMELY TIGHT BUDGET.

Great comments. Just so everyone knows, this article is just about the causes of frizz, rather than how to actually control frizz. Here are links to previous NaturallyCurly articles that offer tips on controlling frizz. I think these could be helpful in answering the questions above!
Experts Reveal Tress Tips for a Stress-Free Vacation: http://tinyurl.com/p7brxg
Bring on the Rain! Stylists Reveal Strategies for a Frizz-free Spring: http://tinyurl.com/ql5ef5
Summerizing Your Curls: http://tinyurl.com/py7dy7
Protecting your Summertime Locks: http://tinyurl.com/qjjfat

What about using oils and butters to help control frizz? What about controlling damage to the hair? Proper brushing and combing goes a long way to that. So does using proper hair accessories like fat cloth covered bands and scrunchies instead of rubber bands. There is a LOT missing from this article.

The article is helpful but never addresses changes in weather patterns as a contributor to frizzy hair. My hair always looks better when it's cold and dry out. Damp and humid? Forget it. No product in the world is going to keep frizz out on a humid, rainy summer day.

I think Giselle's comment about using a hooded dryer is spot on, but is there a hooded dryer that dries from the TOP? They all seem to dry from a hose in the back! Someone (hello Devachan?) should make a hooded dryer for HOME use -- similar to the kind they have in the salons (or heating lamps). Now THAT would be a huge seller.

My hair is 3a and for a long time I still had areas of frizz after I applied product. I seen a video on how to apply hair products for curly hair and immediately after getting out of the shower I section the hair in five little buns using a bird bill clip to hold them in place. Then I take the back section out and apply Deva Curl gel to my hair and scrunch to bring out the curl. Then I grab each section doing the same thing up to the front. It really helped with those areas I just could saturate with product. Mostly the back. The results were amazing! Also the Deva Curly defuser is awesome. I wish I had known about it sooner.